“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Manchester College has honored two of its seniors for fulfilling that challenge of John Quincy Adams.

Biology-chemistry major Erin Cole is recipient of the 2011 Capstone Senior Leadership Award for contributing significantly to the quality of campus life throughout her Manchester College career. The dedicated, highly motivated student from Mooresville, Ind., is a trailblazer, said Jeff Osborne, associate professor of chemistry.

“Erin is the first person in her family to attend college, and has had to learn to navigate the academic culture of higher education,” said Osborne. “She takes responsibility for whatever task she has in front of her, which, combined with her intelligence, yields high-quality results.”

Cole has led the MC chapters of Pre-Professionals of Science (and founded it), American Chemical Society and Alpha Mu Gamma Foreign Language Society. She is a group leader for new-student orientation, a photographer for The Oak Leaves campus paper and yearbook and plays violin with the Manchester Symphony Orchestra. And, of course, she’s a regular on the Dean’s List.

Cole makes a habit of volunteering her Spanish skills, from working with immigrants in a Houston shelter and medical clinic, to joining alumni medical professionals in an arduous practicum in Nicaragua, to tutoring area immigrants in English. Next on her life-agenda: the rural medicine program of the Indiana University School of Medicine at Terre Haute.

English major Jessica Hickerson is the 2011 Outstanding Student Leader of the Year. Hickerson serves as a co-editor of The Oak Leaves campus paper, a residence hall assistant, and student director of Manchester’s office of volunteer services. She's a resident of Linthicum, Md.

“An example of one of Hickerson’s days includes working with peer-mentoring and Indiana Reading Corp instruction and then transitioning to the Office of Volunteer services, excelling in her class work and project assignments, and then returning to her residence hall, where she sponsors a program in her role as a resident assistant to teach a floor of students how to knit baby caps for the “Newborns in Need,” said Beth Sweitzer-Riley, vice president for student development.

“She seamlessly transitions through her day wearing many hats with an unwavering spirit of dedication and service."

Manchester students have a reputation for service, to their communities, their churches and their College, with more than 20,000 hours logged annually.

Other 2011 leadership awards:Organization of the Year: Accounting and Business Club Program of the Year: Quidditch Tournament, sponsored by the Accounting and Business Club

Volunteers of the Year: Joshua Brameier, sophomore math education major from Shelbyville, Ind.; Patrick Forester, junior physics major of Indianapolis; and Jessica Grandlinard, junior education major from Berne, Ind.Organization Members of the Year: Student Alumni Council members Ryan Adams, senior education major, and Chaitra Jewell, junior education major, both of Akron, Ind.; and Campus Interfaith Board co-facilitator Julia Largent, senior peace studies and communication studies major of Muncie, Ind.Advisor of the Year: Benson Onyeji, associate professor of history and political science, and advisor for Model United Nations